Day after day

DEVOTION

PSALMS

DAY AFTER DAY

Ps 61

61:1 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah  5 For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations. 7 May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

8 Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

NIV

To understand that God is a rock higher then ourselves is primary to living successfully, not just as a believer, but as a human. When we start thinking of our greatness, our accomplishments, abilities, skills, intelligence, even in the pursuit of truth, we have lost our way. We are not asking to be lead to a rock higher than us because we are thinking we are a pretty big rock ourselves. When we realize we have no strength, not an ounce, and we have to take refuge in him or we will surely die, then we will surely live. There is no point in pitching our own tent, when God has an everlasting tent for us to dwell in all the days of our life. We need to long to live in his tent, to take shelter under his wings. We are not flying solo. The only reason we can soar like on wings of eagles and not grow weary is we are soaring under his wings. Because we cried out to God and accepted his provision, his protection, his salvation, his love, we have been given the heritage of those who fear his name, which is we have been given eternal life as a heritage. He has handed down this life to us as he has to all who feared his name. About this increasing the days of the king’s life, we are not sure if David meant Saul or himself. At the time Saul was sitting as king, but David had been anointed as the king. Nevertheless it is not inappropriate to ask God to extent our days. This would not be for the purpose of accomplishing more for ourselves, but so that we would have more days to sing praise to his name and fulfill his calling on our lives. If we think we have no calling we are sadly mistaken. How God could knit us together in our mother’s womb, give us life, create each of us with such a distinctly different look and personality only to simply live for our own desires. He has a plan, a purpose for each person in the world. The problem is people have rejected him, for pursuit of self. When we come to Christ, being born again, we left all that behind and began a new journey in our life, knowing he has a purpose for us, a reason for our lives, so that when we ask to increase our days, it is for the reason to accomplish his plan for us. Then we can continue to pursue his plan, and be the person who he designed us to be. That is why we can fulfill our vow to him, day after day.